Filing device



Aug. 14, 1923.

W. A. RINGLER FILING DEVICE Filed Oct. 21. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEYS.

Aug. 14:, 1923.

11,464,833 W. A. RINGLER FILING DEVICE Filed Oct. 21, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE 'J W'IIJEWE A. EINGLER, OF PHILADELPHGLOBE-WERNICKE COMPAN IA, PENNSYLVANIA,

I SIGNOB 130 THE Y, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FILING DEVICE.

Application filed October 21, 1822. fieriel No. 595,828.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. Rmcnnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FilinDevices, of which the following is a la] clear, and exact descr1pt1on.

This invention relates to filing devices, such as trays or containerswhich are superposed so as to occupy a minimum hor zontal area, and hasfor an obyect to PIOVIdQ QJI improved device of this type, with whichconvenient access may he had to any of the units or sections thereof forthe purpose of inserting or removing articles therefrom, which can becollapsed by a simple movement into a substantially closed cabinet oropened by a reverse movement, which will remain in open or collapsedconditions without the use of locks or latches, which when collapsedoccupies a minimum volume, and which is exceptionally simple,convenient, compact, light in weight, easy to manipulate, attractwe inappearance, and mexpensive. Other objects and advantages will beapparent from the following description of one embodiment of theinvention and the novel features will be particularly pointed outhereinafter in claims.

lln the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspectlve of a fillng devlceconstructed in accordance with this invention* Fig. 2 is a similarperspective of the same with the device collapsed;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of the device when in itsopen condition; and

.Fig. t is a similar transverse sectional ole vation of the same when inclosed or collapsed condition.

ln the illustrated embodiment of the invention a plurality of units A,B, C, D and are arranged in superimposed relation and connected togetherby a plurality of links 1, 2 and 3, which are parallel to one anotherand pivotally connected by screws 4 to each of the units along oppositeside walls thereof, so as to form with the sides of the units aplurality of parallelograms. The links are referably disposed along theinner faces 0? the side walls. When so placed the intermediate units B,C and D are provided with slots or apertures 5 in the bottom walls thereof through which the lmks may pass from unit to unit, and which slotsare of sufiicient length to permit of oscillatory movement therein ofthe links. The lmks are connected to the units in such a manner thatwhen the units are in contact and allgned vertically, as shown in Fi res3 and t, the connecting links will be olfi que to the umts (or thebottom walls thereof) so that when the u per sections are forcedrearwardly relatively to the lowermost sect on, the links will moveintovertical positrons, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and carry the unitsinto a step-like relation with the units spaced vertically andrearwardly. When one of the upper sections is moved forwardly from theposition shown in Figures l and 3, the links will move toward theposltion shown in Figure 4L and carry the units Into contact with oneanother as shown 1n Figures 2 and 4.

The units may be any suitable filing unit or device, but in theillustrated embodiment the units A, B, C and D trays or sections and acover section which fits over and entirely covers the lower sectionswhen the filin device is in its collapsed or closed cond1tion. Obviouslythe unit E could be a filing tray instead of a cover unit if desired.lhe trays may have notches 6 in their forward ends to facilitate theremoval of the contents of any tray, and may also have groupidentification devices 7 on the forward end for indicating the contentsof each tray.

A plate 8 extends forwardly from the rear end of the cover section E,and is provided with an aperture 9 which extends forwardly andrearwardly of the sections, that is, in the direction of relativelateral movement of the units. A lug 10 projects upwardly from the rearend of the section D, which is next below the cover section, and passesthrough the aperture 9 of the plate 8 so as to have relative movement inthe aperture when the sections are moved between open and closedpositions. The engagement of the lug 10 in the forward end of theaperture 9 of the plate 8 serves to limit the rearward movement of theconnecting links to positions in which the links are substantiallyvertical.

-A helical coil spring 11 is anchored at one end, such as by a screw 12,to the forward end of the cover section, and at its other end issecured, with the spring under comprise letter the unit E comprises.

some tension, in an a rture 13in the upper end of .the lug 10, w ch lugis at the opposite end of the next lower section. The

\ be little tendenc s in actin between the two uppermost s dt i t i nsat o p osite ends thereof serves to hold the sections in their openpositions by pulling the links about their fivotal con nections to thesection D. e o emng movement of the sections is limited y the e ment ofthe lug 10 in the forward and of the aperture 9 in the plate 8. In theopen position of the dparts there will for the eviceto collapse ormove'to a c osed condition because of the fact that the links aresubstantially vertical and the entire weight will be lengthwise of thelinks and not in a direction to cause rotation thereof about theirpivotal connections to the trays. The spring also 0 poses the closingmovement so that the filing device, when in its open condition, issubstantially stable, and because of the vertically spaced and step likerelation of the tra s each tray is readily accessible when artic es areto be inserted or removed therefrom.

When the sections are moved forwardly upon the lowermost section intotheir closed or collapsed oblique to the bottom walls of the trays. Theweights of the sections supply turning forces upon the links which tendto move them into closed positions as soon as the sections are movedforwardly sufliciently to carry the links out of vertical positions, andthe effective moments of the weights of the sec-.

tions increase as the sections move closer together. The spring duringthis movement is put under a somewhat greater ten. sion, owing to thefact that the lug 10 moves rearwardly with respect to the p ate 8, andthis increase of the tension of the spring acts upon the sections in adirection tending to move them into open position and oppglsled to theclosing movement thereof.

on the sections are entirely collapsed or closed as shown in Figures 2and 4. the turning moments upon the links caused by the weights of thesections are sufiicient to overcome the turnin moment in the op sitedirection which is caused by the when of the sprin so that the sectionswill remam in c osed or collapsed positions. Upon a slight separatingmovement of the sections, the turmng moments caused by the weights ofthe sections will decrease and the turnin moment of the spring willincrease, with t 0 result that the spring will become active to assistthe openin movement durgiglthe latter part of sai movement and hold thearts in the open ositions. This filing evice is parcicularl useful andvaluable when used on ofiice esks for the filing or sorting of mail orvarious papers, and when collapsed it occupies a positions, the linksbecome amass minimum of space which is of-considerable advantage if thefile is to be laced in a safe where space is limited. filing device'maybe placed in the drawerof a desk or cabinet having a 'heitgllgsubstantially equal to the height of the g device when collapsed, andwhen the drawer is pulled outwardly the filing device can, be a simplemovement, be opened or expanded into a position in which the trays arereadily accessible and the contents visible. In closing the drawer, ifone fails to first close the.

filing device, the uppermost unit, by its en- 5a ment with the frontwall or face of the es or cabinet will be shoved forwardly and cause thefiling device to collapse during the inward movement of the drawer. Infact, if desired, these filing devices could be mounted in cabinets inthe manner of drawers so as to occupy a minimum of space within thecabinet and be expansible into open positions when pulled outwardly.

It will be obvious that various changes in the number and nature of theunits, and the details and arrangement of arts herein described andillustrated fort e purpose of explaining the nature of the-invention, mabe made by those skilled in the art wit in the principle and scope ofthe in vention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A filing device comprising a plurality of superim osed units, aplurality of parallel lin s pivotally connected to adoining lateralwalls of the units at opposite sides thereof, said links extendingoblique to the bottom walls of the units when the units are in contact,whereby when the links are moved into positions prependicular to thebottom walls of the units, the units will be separated vertically, and aspring connected under tension between two of the units in the directionof relative lateral movement of the units.

2. A filing device comprising a plurality of superimposed unitsconnected by parallel links, said links being ivotally connected toadjoining units, where y relative movement of the units will result in aseparation and lateral spacing of the same, and a spring deviceconnected under tension between two of the units in thedirectionofrelative lateral movement therebetween for stressing theunits in a direction to rotate the links into positions in which theyare normal to the units.

3. A filing device comprising a plurality -of-super1mposed unitsconnected by parallel links said links being ivotally connected toadjoiningumts, where y relative movement of the umts will result in aseparation and lateral spacln of the same, a spring device connected uner tension between two of the units in the direction of relative lateralmovement therebetween for stressing the units in a direction to rotatethe links into positions in which they are normal to the units, andmeans for limiting relative movement of the units under the action ofthe sprin device.

4. filing device comprising a plurality of superimposed units connectedby parallel links, said links being pivotally connected to adjoiningunits, whereby relative movement of the units will result in aseparation and lateral spacin of the same, a spring device connected uner tension between two of the units in the direction of relative lateralmovement therebetween for stressing the units in a direction to rotatethe links into positions in which they are normal to the units, andmeans actingbetween two of the units for limiting relative movement ofthe units under the action of the spring device.

5.' A filing device comprising a plurality of superimposed unitsconnected by parallel links, said links being ivotally connected toadjoining units, wherelzy relative movement of the units will result ina separation and lateral spacing of the same, and a pin and slotconnection between two of the units for limiting relative movement ofthe units.

6. A filing device comprising a plurality of superimposed tray sectionsand a cover section connected by parallel links, said links beinpivotaliy connected to adjoining sections w ereby relative movement ofthe sections will space them endwise and separate them, a In carried bythe uppermost tray section, and a stop member carried by the under sideof the cover section and cooperating with the said lug for limitingspacing movements of the sections.

7. A filing device comprising a plurality of superimposed tray sectionsand a cover section connected by parallel links, said links beingpivotally connected to adjoining sections whereby relative movement ofthe sections will space them endwise and separate them, a lug carried bythe upper most tray section, a stop member carried by the under side ofthe cover section and cooperating with the said lug for limiting spacingmovements of the sections, a spring connected under tension between thesaid lug and the opposite wall of the cover section for pulling saidsections in a direction to carry the links into a position normal to thesections.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

LLIAM A. RINGLER.

